Role Of Sarvdeshik Sood Sabha

 - Bipan Chand Sood, President, Sarvdeshik Sood Sabha

    History of Sarvdeshik Sood Sabha is very old. It is evident that Sood Community has functioned as a close-knit large family. As per the records available, the first meeting of Sarvdeshik Sood Sabha was held in the year 1881 at Ludhiana. But there is no record to show who presided over this meeting.  R.B. Mohan Lal Sood, M.L.C. of Garli presided over the second meeting held at Lahore the following year. At regular intervals meetings were held at difference places and prominent personalities presided over these meetings. There were Sood Sabhas in almost every important city and town of Northern India. It brought the Biradari together and also ensured that social evils do not creep in the psyche of the Soods. Our Biradari became progressive and liberal and also developed a high sense of service, dignity and duty towards the Society. We are proud of our heritage. No doubt in the recent times due to break down of the joint family system there has been perceptible change in the society which has not only affected the Sood Biradari but almost all the communities.  Biradari system also came under pressure. In economy driven growing Society such developments are  natural.

 However, basically man is a social animal and is in constant search for emotional security, peace and solace. He also  seeks recognition in the society. The answer lies in strengthening the biradari system. Therefore, let us make efforts to form Sood Sabhas in all cities and towns. It will not only bring the members closer but it is a platform for rendering service to the Society. Even in a small town where the number of sood families is small if they come closer and from the platform of Sood Sabha start doing social work, they will get recognition in the area. They should start organizing some social activities like medical camps, Eye Donation and Blood Donation Camps, creating awareness against female foeticide etc. There is another problem in the Society. In their old age, elders are feeling insecure and ignored. Such broad issues can be best addressed by forming Sood Sabhas. I am glad that in the recent months, Sood Sabhas have been formed at Dharamsala and Khanna. I congratulate the enterprising Sood Families of these cities for taking this step.

In September, 2004 a meeting of the Sarvdeshik Sood Sabha was held at Shimla at the invitation of Sood Sabha, Shimla. Office Bearers of the following Sood Sabhas participated in the meeting:

Sood Sabha, Amritsar
Sood Sabha, Parwanoo/Kalka
Sood Sabha, Hoshiarpur
Sood Sabha, Solan
Sood Sabha, Phagwara 
Sood Sabha, Ambala
Sood Sabha, Shimla 
Sood Sabha, Chandigarh

Shri Surinder Sood, General Secretary, Sood Sabha, Chandigarh was made the General Secretary of Sarvdeshik Sood Sabha and Shri Hari Om Sood, former President, Sood Sabha, Chandigarh was made the Finance Secretary. Various issues were discussed in the meeting. An important decision was taken to collect funds for rendering financial help to those who are suffering from any serious ailments and cannot meet with the costly expenses. Rs. 60,000/- were collected on the spot.

Efforts are being made to collect more information about the functioning of Sarvdeshik Sood Sabha and Shri Surinder Sood is trying to collect data from various sources. On the basis of the information gathered so far we have prepared the following details of the meetings of Sarvdeshik Sood Sabha held from time to time and the great personalities of the Biradari who presided over these meetings.

Meetings of Sarvdeshik Sood Sabha held at regular intervals

Year	Place	President
1881	LUDHIANA	( Information not available )
1882	LAHORE	R.B.LALA MOHAN LAL, MLC GARLI
1911	GARLI	( Information not available )
1912	PARAGPUR	( Information not available )
1914	JAWALA MUKHI	HON’BLE JUSTICE  SIR JAI LAL SOOD
1919	LUDHIANA	L. DUNI CHAND AMBALVI
1928	JALANDHAR	SH.ATAM SARUP BERI , PATIALA
1929	MOGA	R.S.L. MUSHTAQ RAI OF JALANDHAR
1930	HOSHIARPUR	R.B.L. JODHA MAL KUTHIALA
1932	JALANDHAR	R.S.L. RADHA KRISHAN OF AMRITSAR
1933	GARLI	DR. BHAGWAN DASS OF JALANDHAR
1935	SHIMLA	R.S. CH. GANPAT RAI OF MOGA
1938	AMRITSAR	L. MILKHI RAM ADVOCATE, HOSHIARPUR
1941	PALAMPUR	L.  MELA RAM SOOD OF SHIMLA
1943	AMRITSAR	L. MANGAT RAL KUTHIALA, HOSHIARPUR
1946	SHIMLA	SETH SULAKHAN SINGH SOOD,AMRITSAR
1950	PHAGWARA	L. AMOLAK RAM ADVOCATE, MOGA
1957	LUDHIANA	L. AMAR NATH BERI, LUDHIANA
1962	AMRITSAR	SETH SULAKHAN SINGH SOOD, AMRITSAR.
1966	HOSHIARPUR	L. KEDAR NATH BOURIE, LUDHIANA
1972	CHANDIGARH	HON’BLE JUSTICE TEK CHAND SOOD
1985	AMBALA	SH. BRAHM DATT SOOD
2004	SHIMLA	SH. BIPAN CHAND SOOD, CHANDIGARH

       
Office of the Sarvdeshik Sood Sabha is at Sood Bhawan, Sector 44-A, Chandigarh.
Members of the Biradari are requested to Mail To Us if they have any information or if they wish to make any suggestion.